Compound-geared brake-spindle and ratchet-handle.



PATENTED APR. 11, 1905.

v No. 786,989.

L. rmesr COMPOUND GBARED BRAKE SPINDLE AND RATGHET HANDLE;

/ I APPLICATION FILED DEO.9, 1903.

- UNITED STATES Patented April 11, 1905.

- PATENT I OFFICE.

LOUIS PFINGST, OF NEW DORGHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

COIVIPOUND-GIEARED BRAKE- SPlNDLE AND RATCHET-HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,989, dated April 11, 1905.

- Application filed December 9, 1903. Serial No. 184,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs PFINGST, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New Dorchester, in the county of ,Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compound-Geared Brake-S indles and Ratchet-Handles, of which the foil is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in brake mechanism for controlling the speed of cars on street railways, which I term a compound-geared brake-spindle and ratchet-handle.

The objects of my improvements are, first,

to secure increased leverage to rotate the brake-spindle; second, .to multiply the ap plied power upon the car-brake rigging; third, to economize the space upon the platform, and, fourth, to provide efficient mechanism conveniently accessible to obtain greater power manually applied. I attain these objects through the improved mechanthe shanr thereof, having a chamber or recess C accessible through the bottom of the shank. This chamber is provided with vertical projecting ribs 0, which enter the peripheral grooves D, formed in the upper female clutch member D, which is actuated by said brake-handle A. The coacting male ratchet clutch member E engages with the upper clutch member D through the medium of the serrations or teeth D E formed upon the contiguous surfaces of each clutch member, as shown. The depending stub-shaft F, Fig. 2, forms an integral part of the clutch E owing Fig. 2 illusand also forms the upward extension F, which carries loosely the supplemental clutch member D, forced in temporary engagement by the helical spring G, embracing said extension and secured thereon by the collar I-I through the pin I. A circumferential groove J on said collar receives the locking-pin K, assing through and securing the brake-hand e A to the extension F, thus allowing the rotation of said handle, together with the clutch member D, either to the right or left, while preventing the liberation of the handle from its-contained accessories.

To the ratchet-clutch shaft F is attached the pinion L, which engages with and transmits motion to the spur-gear M, secured to the upper end of the chain-winding spindle N, through which the power manual y applied to the brake-handle A and its described coacting accessories is conveyed by the attached chain and rod forming a part of the ordinary brake-rigging (not necessary to illustrate) to the car-wheels, and thus applies or releases the brake-shoes.

O designates .the gear-case, which also forms the bracket supporting the brake-handle A and the upper. end of the chain-winding spindle N and which is secured to the cardasher rail P, substantially as illustrated.

0 represents the cover of the gear-case,

which additionally with said case forms bear ings for the shaft and spindle when the devices are organized.

The conservation of power, with an added efficiency in its application, together. with the facility of assembling or restablishment of worn parts should replacement become necessary will be obvious in this car-brake equipment.

In the practical operation of my improved invention, premising the brake is off, with the "brake-rigging relaxed, the power is manually applied by rotating the brake-handle to the right and taking up the slack of the brakerigging with substantially one revolution. Additional power is now applied by reciproeating the brake-handle rapidly, the proportion of the gears manifestly augmenting the efficiency of the brake-shoes in their applied friction to the car-wheels, the stored power being temporarily held through the instrumentality of the ordinary ratchet on the lower half of the chain-spindle and the at tendant holdback-pawl on the car-platform, thus keeping the brakes on until the interval of their release, when the mechanism returns, assisted by the impetus of the brake-springs and the disunion of the clutches, to its nor mal position.

Having ascertained the preferred construction and operation of my improved invention, I do not confine myself to the details herein defined, but may variously modify the same without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. In a car-brake manually operated, a rotatable spindle adapted to apply and release the ear-brake rigging provided at its upper end with a spur-gear, and means on its lower end for the attachment of a chain and rod, a pinion engaging with said gear, a shaft supporting said pinion terminating in a clutch having an extension, a rotatable handle, a chamber in said handle integrally provided with projecting ribs, means actuated by said ribs to receive and transmit motion to the spindle, a fixed collar supported on said extension and having a circumferential groove, means to secure temporary engagement of the clutch members and means to confine the rotatable handle to said extension to permit 7 right and left rotation while preventing lib eration of said handle from its contained accessories.

2. A chain-winding spindle attached to a car-platform and having a fixed gear, a pinion eoacting therein to actuate said gear, a lower clutch member provided'with a stubshaft supporting said pinion, a supplemental clutch member adapted to operate the lower clutch and its attendant pinion, and means integral with the brake-handle to operate the assembled clutch members to apply or release the brake-shoes for the purpose set forth.

3. A clutch member provided with a stubshaft, means on said shaft to transmit an applied power, a chain-winding spindle having means to receive motion from said stub-shaft, a supplemental clutch member having peripheral grooves and a brake-handle provided with means to engage with said grooves and thus convey the power manually applied to operate the car-brake rigging.

4. In combination with a brake-handle having a chambered shank provided with vertical projecting ribs, a female member having peripheral grooves, a male member having an extension at its upper end arranged to support said female member and means embracing the extension to secure temporary engagement of said members collectively forming the ratchet-clutch, a clutchshaft having a fixed pinion thereon and means coactlng with said pinion and secured to the spindle to actuate it to control the carbrake.

5. The herein-described appliances constituting a brake for street-cars comprising a rotatable chambered handle, a ratchet-clutch within said handle and actuated thereby and a pair of multiplying-gears connected and arranged to transmit motion from the organized clutch through the chain-spindle to the brake-rigging, in combination therewith a gear-casehaving bearings for said gears and further adapted as a bracket to support the spindle and its accessories from the car-dasher rail as specified.

Signed at Boston, Massachusetts, this 7th day of December, 1903.

LOUIS PFINGST.

Witnesses:

GEORGE H. Rnrss, WILLIAM W. DOIIUT. 

